Regions
Kootenay Boundary.
Storm slabs have been reactive to humans and natural activity. Expect the trend to continue, as warming is on its way. Be prudent and assess the snow carefully before travelling into avalanche terrain.
Confidence
Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain
Weather Forecast
MONDAY: Mostly cloudy, light southwesterly winds, alpine temperature -2 C, freezing level 1700 m rising to 2000 m by late afternoon.TUESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud early-morning then mostly cloudy with rain, accumulation 5 to 10 mm, light to moderate southerly winds, alpine temperature 2 C, freezing level 2500 m dropping to 2000 m over the day.WEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud, light southerly winds, alpine temperature -2 C, freezing level 1700 m.
Avalanche Summary
A widespread natural storm slab cycle was observed on Saturday. The avalanches were small to large (size 1 to 2), 10 to 20 cm thick, and often started in lee terrain features at treeline and alpine elevations. These slabs were also reactive to skiers, either producing small storm slabs or loose dry avalanches.
Snowpack Summary
Around 20 to 40 cm of storm snow fell with strong east switching to southwest winds, redistributing the snow into lee features in exposed terrain. The new snow overlies a melt-freeze crust on southerly aspects and on all aspects at low elevations, and settled snow on shaded aspects at high elevations.The snowpack below this is generally well-settled and strong.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.